Thursday, 26 November 2015

UBTH Doctors Expose The Rot in The Hospital

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Edo State, have issued several statements to condemn the current state of the hospital, whilst accusing the hospital's management of mismanaging the hospital's resources.

According to the President of the UBTH ARD, Dr. Omorogbe Owen, almost all of the hospital's diagnostic equipment are non-functional and the working conditions are terrible.

He said, "The theatres are in the worst conditions as surgeries are carried out by doctors who are sweating on patients. Insects and reptiles come in freely into the theatres and wards because of the dilapidated state of facilities."

Another point raised was the “extortion of patients--The ARD boss said patients were forced to pay N3, 900 general wards’ fees daily after paying an initial admission deposit of N20, 000.

He stated, “For instance, the bed fee for specialist ward is N15,000 daily after an admission deposit of N50, 000, compared to what is obtainable elsewhere such as the Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State and the University College, Ibadan, Oyo State, were bed fee is N1,500 and N1,000 per day respectively. The same is applicable at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State where bed fee is N1,000 daily.”

Dr. Owen also alleged that some departments had lost their accreditation due to the lack of facilities and manpower--this obviously affects the quality of service being rendered to patients.

He said, "It is shocking to reveal that the last time resident doctors were employed in UBTH was in 2011 and in the intervening four- year period, over 400 resident doctors have exited without any replacement."

"The hospital that was manned by over 150 house officers is currently covered by 60 house officers while a ward of over 50 patients is being run by three nurses. One can then imagine the kind of care patients get from this shortage of staff."

Wow! If things are really this bad, something needs to be done urgently.